Tag Archives: #gsusa

Wow, first post back in a very very long time. Fittingly, it is about food!

A couple of weekends ago, I went on a campout with Troop 18 (my son’s troop, where I am an Asst. Scoutmaster) to Put-in-Bay. We all agreed we wanted to spend as much time kayaking, fishing, going into town and bird watching, and as little time as possible cooking. So Saturday evening’s dinner was about as minimal as you can get, but it packed maximum flavor and the boys and adults all agreed it was just that. darn. good. The boys dubbed it “Prison Slop.” Here’s what would pass as a recipe:

Prison Slop

2 gallons water

1 box (6 lb) of instant mashed potato flakes

3 pounds cheese (shredded, cubed, type doesn’t really matter)

3 pillow packs (1.5 lbs) sliced pepperoni

Salt & Pepper to taste

(Equipment needed: One turkey fryer burner with propane tank, one large stock pot with lid, big spoon for mixing and serving.)

Heat the water in the pot until just starting to boil. Remove from heat and add potato flakes. Stir until well combined and mashed potatoes are achieved.

Add in the cheese and pepperoni and mix thoroughly, stirring until the cheese is melted.

Sorry to disappear for several days there, but I’ve been incommunicado. I wasn’t abandoning my 100 Days of Scouting efforts, I was immersed in a totally new (to me) Scouting environment: Girl Scout encampments.

I’ve stopped counting how many bag nights I’ve had camping as a Scout leader since getting back into the movement in 2006, but I’m sure I’m well over 100 by now. But all of them had been with either Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts. My oldest has been a Girl Scout since Kindergarten and other than writing the checks for fees to camp and other events each year, I hadn’t been very involved with her program. I always felt a little bad about that considering how much time I put into BSA programs with Jon in all the roles I do at the pack level and above.

So when Brandi (former Cubmaster for the pack, was my program director for 2008 Cub Twilight Camp in Springboro and is currently the Service Unit Manager for NOVA 449 of the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio) asked me to take a position as part of the service unit team as “Camping Coordinator” I agreed. That was about six 8 months ago. I helped with a campout last summer that ended up being about 10 people total, and then I helped give the CSA a presentation on Campfire Program Planning (I used the same course materials I taught at University of Scouting). I also showed up to a couple of meetings and helped teach knots to some of the girls. Overall, it wasn’t too much work but I was glad to help.

The first big event that I was drafted to assist with was the winter campout. This is a pretty big deal, one of the larger events the Service Unit pulls off each year. In 2010 there were about 85 total people there (campers, program aide’s [PA’s] and adults). This year our attendance went up and we had 118 people registered (several no show’ed on us, I think about 113-115 actually showed up).

We held the event at Camp Stonybrook over on Route 73 near Waynesville. It was the first time I had spent more than a few minutes at that camp, and it was very nice! We had the dining hall and the two lodges that are grouped nearby (Pinetree and Ittman), as well as the Director’s Cabin nearby down the hill. There were girls aged from 5 (Kindergarten) to 17 (High School). They were divided up based on age and program level. Daisies had one side of Pinetree and were one group. The Brownies were broken into two groups (pink and yellow) and all stayed on the other side of Pinetree. The juniors were also broken into two groups (Red and Aqua) and took half of Ittman, while the other half of Ittman were our PA’s and PA’s in training (Cadette and older). The most experienced and mostly the oldest of the PA’s, our Leader PA’s (LPA’s) were in the Director’s Cabin. Each area separate sleeping areas for youth and adults and there were adult leaders with them. Being the only male in the entire camp, I got the entire dining hall to myself. I also got my own special bathroom.

We started the event on Friday about 6:00 PM and ended about 3:00 PM on Sunday. The camp-in (called a camp-in because they were sleeping in lodges not tents) was themed “Camp Like an Egyptian” and most activities were based around that theme.

I was really impressed with the whole experience. And honestly, it wasn’t too much different than running a Cub Scout camping event for about the same amount of people, at least from the standpoint in what I was doing as Camp Director. The biggest differences I noticed:

Camp names. We use nicknames in my den, but each leader and PA had their own camp name that was used solely in place of their regular name.

Songs – Not that there aren’t songs at Cub Scout camp, far from it. They were just different songs. And some of them are STUCK. IN. MY. HEAD. three days after camp!

I personally had a great experience and was really glad to have been able to go and help out (or at least I hope I helped out). The girls were great! And the LPA’s really were on the ball with being in front to get done what needed to get done, if Brandi or I needed something we told one of them and they made it happen. And everyone seemed to be okay with having a (big hairy) man there, and letting me throw in a couple of things I thought would be neat to do, like introducing the girls to the Order of the Fork!

So now that I’m recuperated from that event (being up dealing with issues until 2:30 – 4:30 each night will make you kind of tired), we are working on an online survey for the parents to take to use as feedback for next year’s event.

And then, after I get through Blue & Gold this weekend, we start planning the Service Unit spring camp-out (at Camp Hook in May). And then the Pack campout in the summer as well. I think I’m going to be criss-crossing ideas and ways of doing things back and forth, kind of using the best of both worlds.

So it seems like each Wednesday was the day to post something food related, so I’ll keep with that topic for this week.

At our district’s Klondike Derby each year, the adults from each unit who run the cities participate in a chili cook-off. There’s a travelling trophy that gets engraved with the winner’s name and that unit holds onto it for the next year and it is handed in, re-engraved and handed out to the next year’s winner. Neat idea. Plus in the early January cold it is always nice to be able to get some warm grub at each station!

So last weekend was our district’s first ever Cub Klondike (see my previous post), and I decided at rather the last minute (10:00 PM the night before) that I was going to make chili at my city. I ran Nome where we did the Good Camp / Bad Camp station (I set up the camp and made five errors that were either poor camping skills or violating Leave No Trace and the boys had to identify each to me for their nuggets), so I was already going to have a kitchen set up, why not cook? So I threw together a chili which isn’t terribly original but turned out excellent if I do say so myself (and I do, as did several other people at the event who partook in it). So I figured I’d share the recipe.

(I should note that my “recipe” was basically to take the instructions from the back of the chili seasoning packet and modify it with some extra stuff, so McCormick’s should get some of the credit I suppose. What can I say, it was 9 hours before the event and I needed to get some sleep, I didn’t have time to come up with my own seasoning mix! Next time I’ll be more creative, and I’ll be sure to share the results with you too!)

Middletownscouter’s Special Valentine’s Day “Hearts on Fire” Chili

2 packages McCormick’s HOT chili seasoning mix

1 package McCormick’s original chili seasoning mix

3 pounds ground beef

2 8-oz cans Tomato Sauce

2 15-oz cans chili ready diced tomatoes (with onions)

1 15-oz can hot chili beans

1 30-oz can regular chili beans

6 cups water

kosher salt

ground black pepper

garlic powder

Diced white onion (optional)

Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Sliced pickled jalapeños (optional)

Sour Cream (optional)

Crackers (optional)

(Note: I cooked this recipe over a propane camp stove. You could also do this over a campfire but be careful to monitor constantly to ensure even heating and no burning. You also will want to soap the OUTSIDE bottom and sides of your pot so they don’t get permanently carbon scored.)

Season the ground beef with salt, pepper and garlic powder, then brown in a large stock pot. Once there is no longer any visible pink in your ground beef, drain off the fat and return the pot to your heat source.

Add in the seasoning mix, tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans and water. Stir until everything is completely combined. (Note, if you are doing this at camp, it helps to bring a can opener. Opening six cans of stuff with a pocket knife takes a lot of effort and a lot of time)

Bring chili to a boil, stirring occasionally (making sure to hit the bottom of the pot so nothing sticks and burns on). Once the chili is boiling turn down the heat (or move to a cooler area of the campfire) and allow to simmer until at the desired thickness / consistency.

So most churches celebrated Scout Sunday last Sunday. However, at First Presbyterian Church (my home church) we do Scout Sunday the 2nd weekend in February because it won’t double-up with communion Sundays, which are long enough as it is. This is the 5th Scout Sunday I’ve helped plan at the church and each year it keeps getting better and better.

This year we had Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers and Girl Scouts helping as worship assistants. The only person involved in the service (besides the choir) who weren’t current or former Scouts was the organist (I believe; I think the pianist was a Girl Scout in her youth). I was very happy with how it turned out. Here’s the layout of the service (items in bold are also read by the congregation in unison):

CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive) – Pastor (Eagle Scout)
The Lord be with you.And also with you. This is the day that the Lord has made;Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

PRAYER OF PRAISE AND ADORATION (unison) – Brownie Girl ScoutEternal God, our beginning and our end, be our starting point and our haven, and accompany us in this day’s journey. Use our hands to do the work of your creation, and use our lives to bring others the new life you give this world in Jesus Christ, Redeemer of all. Amen.

HYMNAL #564 – O Beautiful for Spacious Skies (Materna)

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) – Junior Girl ScoutAlmighty God, who made light to shine in the darkness, shine now in our hearts. We confess that we have sinned and have not walked in your light. Forgive us, we pray, and restore us to the way of Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

SILENT CONFESSION

DECLARATION OF PARDON – Junior Girl Scout

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THE PEACE

CIRCLE TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES – Eagle Scout

RESPONSE – HYMN #338 – Kum ba Yah (verses 1 & 4)

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION – Webelos Scout

FIRST SCRIPTURE LESSON – Deuteronomy 30: 15-20 – Webelos Scout
See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

PSALM 119: 1-8 (responsive) – Brownie Girl Scout
Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.Happy are those who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways. You have commanded your precepts to be kept dilligently. O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous ordinances. I will observe your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.

SECOND SCRIPTURE LESSON – 1 Corinthians 3: 1-9 – Pastor (Eagle Scout)
And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely human?
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neighter the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.
The Word of the Lord!Thanks be to God!

SERMON – “Trail the Eagle” – Pastor (Eagle Scout)

A MOMENT FOR SILENT MEDITATION

HYMN – “Philmont Prayer” (sung to the tune of “Eternal Father, Strong to Save”)Almighty God of hill and plain,
O’er which we hike in sun and rain,On mountain top and valley low,Protect us, Lord, where’er we go.And from our grateful hearts we’ll raiseGlad hymns of thankfulness and praise.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (unison) – from “The Brief Statement of Faith” – Boy ScoutWe trust in Jesus Chris, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal.

GLORIA PATRI – HYMNAL #579Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end,Amen, Amen!

THE LORD’S PRAYER (unison)Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name; thy kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

HYMN – “Scout Vespers” (sung to the tune of “O Tannenbaum”)Softly falls the light of dayWhile our campfire fades away.Silently each Scout should askHave I done my daily task?Have I kept my honor bright?Can I guiltless sleep tonight?Have I done and have I daredEverything to be prepared?

Listen Lord, oh listen Lord,As I whisper soft and low.Bless my mom and bless my dad,These are things that they should know.I will keep my honor bright,The oath and law will be my guide.And mom and dad this you should know,Deep in my heart I love you so.

Everyone who was a part of the service did an excellent job, especially those doing the readings (one of whom was terrified of going up and speaking in front of the whole church).

After we got done eight of us went and had our traditional Scout Sunday brunch at Frisch’s. All in all I was very happy with how well everything went. Next year we are probably going to move our Scout Sunday to March 11 to be closer to the Girl Scout’s 100th birthday (3/12/12).

“No girls! For a whole week! Oh yeah!” That’s what my son (Webelos II, 90% done with Arrow of Light and slacking hard) has been saying, anyway.

Because this morning I dropped off my daughter (Jr. Girl Scout, Bronze Award recipient) and my wife (Juliette Coordinator for the NOVA Service Unit of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and Secretary for Cub Scout Pack 19) at Brandi’s house. Brandi is Pack 19’s former Cubmaster, the Crew Advisor for Crew 1 and the Service Unit Manager for NOVA Service Unit, in addition to running her daughter’s Girl Scout Troops. A service unit is the GS-USA equivalent to a BSA district, though usually a bit smaller. NOVA covers all of Middletown and Monroe, and supposedly Madison will be joining the fold soon from what I hear.

Anyway, the girls are probably just getting into Tennessee at this point as they make their way to Savannah Georgia on a Girl Scout pilgrimage of sorts. Savannah is the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA. I’m sure they’ll have a great time! Their departure makes our houndmutt Buckeye the lone female of the house. Naturally, she is in charge.

While the girls are gone, Jon and I will be trying to knock out those last few requirements to put him over the top for his AOL. The only one we cannot complete is to be an active Webelos for six months after completing 4th grade or turning 10 years old. Sadly, I have not mastered time travel just yet (that would be an interesting Craftsman/Scientist/Engineer activity badge crossover project I think), so we’ll have to finish up everything else and wait until late September to mark off that final checkpoint.

Hopefully my wife can enjoy the trip and not worry about the state of the house so much. It was mostly clean when they left, and she’s convinced that when they get back the property will be unrecognizable as a livable human habitat. Like we’re just a bunch of dirty messy smelly boys or something? Go figure.

We’ll let you know just how high you can stack pizza boxes once they’re empty. And build a pyramid out of root beer cans. That counts towards engineering or something I bet.

The BSA and GS-USA sure have taken different paths to get where they are today, and as a parent of one of each I can see good and bad points in each program. They are both quite different programs, but the end game of each – to build young people of character, prepare them to make moral and ethical choices over their lifetimes, give them citizenship and leadership skills they will take with them into adulthood – remains the same. And both have been and are succeeding for the last century (or nearly a century).

The Girl Scouts celebrate 98 years of service this year, formed by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912. It would be neat if they’d have what I think would be their first ever National Jamboree on their centennial, I know my daughter would be pumped about attending. Let’s get on that ladies!